This un-named summit sits within the Hakatere Conservation Area, WWFF ZLFF-0128/POTA ZL-0131. This is a separate set of references from the Hakatere Conservation PARK - see ontheair.nz for details as it can be a bit confusing. Matt's excellent overlays make it easy!
I'd had my eye on this one for a while and, as there is access completely on public land, it's a good one to have in the bag. The Hakatere is one of our SOTA playgrounds with a range of summits to suit all fitness levels and seasons. With Friday being a public holiday in Canterbury(Show Day), Francie and I were keen to get down to Mt Somers Domain camping ground for the long weekend.
Dave commuted across from Timaru early Saturday morning and we were under way just after 7am. The forecast was for a change mid afternoon and thunderstorms so the aim was to get up, activated and down in good time!
There's a 4WD easement track to the Conservation Area boundary but it is not maintained and is very deeply rutted. Currently "closed to vehicle access". We walk in anyway as it's not far and is a good warm-up. This forms part of the Te Araroa trail so is quite popular.
Routing for this one is easy - as soon as you are through the gate into the Conservation Area, turn right and follow the boundary fence up the spur to the top and keep following the fences until you reach the summit!
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| Making maximum use of the Conservation Area! |
There are a couple of patches of bracken and Matagouri to negotiate on the way but it's not too bad...
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| Matagouri fun. Note how clear it is on the other side of the fence (private land)... |
We arrived at the summit about 45 minutes before our alert time so had a nice leisurely look around and set up. The views are great, 11 SOTA summits within a few km and many more on the westerly horizon.
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| 5 SOTA summits in the foreground of this photo! |
2m coverage was poor with just the 1/4 wave whip - nowhere near as good as predicted. I only worked Jim ZL3ND (Methven) and Norm ZL2IR in Rakaia. I had worked Dave while he remained outside the AZ (to get the FA contact done) so was sweating on the fourth to get the points! 40m was full of static crashes from the approaching storm so I was very relieved when Roly ZL1BQD answered my CQ! Of course, then the floodgates opened and I worked Chris F4WBN, W4JKC, Adam K6ARK (S2S on W6/CT-016) and JH1MXV plus our usual loyal VK Chasers. Dave had also worked a pile of VKs on 20m SSB including some keen to get the park.
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| Equipment was KX2 with the 20m long EFHW (resonant on 40/20/15/10m) rigged Inverted Vee style. |
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| Operating position looking SE to Mt Somers and CB-649 |
Come 1130 am and we decided it was time to get moving so packed down the gear, wolfed our lunch and headed down.
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| Lake Emily on the descent |
Our timing was perfect, just a few spots of drizzle as we approached the car and by the time we got back to the coffee stop in Mt Somers (highly recommend the General Store coffee, it's excellent) it was raining hard! An hour later, we were in the midst of an impressive electrical storm, safely tucked up in the Faraday shield (caravan).
A really nice summit as long as you have decent gaiters/pants to get through the Matagouri. Definitely one to add to the regular list!
Permission: None needed, Hakatere Conservation Area (as long as you stay on the left of the fence going up)
Trig: None, just a pipe with a wooden stick in it.
Time: 2.5 hours - 6.6 km 700m vertical gain
Repeaters: Canterbury hilltop repeaters available but no simplex to the city/North Canterbury
Photo Credit: Thanks to Dave ZL3DRN
